Sportsline's 'Faceoff' participants agree that McCarty's impact will be limited

In CBS Sportsline's weekly "Faceoff," Greg Cimilluca and Mihai Cercel were asked to assess Darren McCarty's relative impact upon the Red Wings' roster, and they seem to agree that "Mac's" not going to set the world on fire, albeit with differing degrees of sarcasm regarding the move:

April 2, Sportsline: Question: Do you think Darren McCarty is going to make a difference for the Red Wings during the playoffs? Or is he just here for intimidation?

Greg Cimilluca: I am really not sure what McCarty has left in the tank to give his beloved Red Wings. He's trying to make a comeback after several off-ice issues, but it's his on-ice play that should be of concern for Detroit right now. I don't think he necessarily will cost them anything per se, but don't think he will bring anything to the table, either. And that spot could be used for a young player getting some playoff experience. Perhaps being reunited with his old linemates of Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper will give him the spark he once had, and let's not forget, the playoffs are where McCarty has played some of his biggest games, so maybe this will be the right fit for both. But I am thinking his ice time will be limited and a non-factor. Kudos to his tackling personal demons and on the comeback -- maybe that's the victory he's searching for.

Mihai Cercel: Darren McCarty is no longer the intimidating factor he once was, the player who once helped the Detroit Red Wings win Stanley Cups in 1997 -- when he scored the winning goal against the Flyers -- and again in 1998 and 2002. McCarty, who played with Detroit from 1993-2004, is getting a second stint with the Red Wings after he was dealing with some personal problems and substance-abuse issues in the past few years. McCarty has slowly made it back after starting a comeback in the IHL followed by a stint in the AHL. He is just getting up to speed and getting back in the groove with Detroit, but he will not make a significant difference in the playoffs. McCarty will be a role player, help his team physically to some degree, but he likely will see limited ice time and don't look for him to score game-winning goals anytime soon. He already has been nursing rib injuries since he was recalled from the Grand Rapids of the AHL.